Celebrate National Libraries Day (6 Feb) Tell us what your library mean to you

[RachelMumsnet]

It's National Libraries Day on Saturday 6 February and the Mumsnet Books team wants to show our support as we think they're worth celebrating. Tell us what your local library means to you by Sunday 7 February and you'll be entered into a draw to win a bundle of great books for you and your dcs. Winner will be announced next Monday (8 Feb).

Over the past year or so we have rediscovered our local library (which is a good 30 minutes drive from us but sadly is the nearest) and for us it means a lovely afternoon trip after school and a chance to enjoy some time together at bedtime reading the books they choose. We go every fortnight and they often ask to go more often.

The kids have a snack en-route to get their energy back and then we go and have a good browse. They both like the machines for returning and checking out the books and always ask for more than the 5 books each I let them get. My oldest goes off and spends the time carefully choosing his own, I have a quite look and choose a couple of reads from a favorite author, my 3 year old comes back with a huge pile to pick from and the baby and I have a cuddle and a read while we wait for them.
The staff are knowledgeable and friendly and it always feels like a nice welcoming place to go. I plan to try and get across to some of the school holiday activities this year and the kids loved the reading challenge last Summer.

Of course then when we get home there is the excitement of choosing which books to start with and getting into new stories.

I've always loved going to the library, from a young age borrowing picture books. As a child I lived just very close to the library which was great as I could go by myself any time and I still remember vividly many of the books I borrowed then. I had quite a few books at home but would never have been able to read so much, and so many different kinds of books without the library.

We go to the library quite often now as a family and all of us borrow books, we like listening to childrens' audiobooks and can always find something new to read. It is great to able to read so many different books, all for free, so you try something different. Our local library has good opening hours and a good range of books, and is one of the most visited in the area.They put on a variety of activities such as storytime and rhythym and rhyme and and recently dd1 went to a Harry Potter night they had. It would be a real shame if libraries were to disappear.

I've just written my third novel in a library - went there every day and stayed for hours. It's so nice to work when other people around you are reading or studying or researching. And the librarians were great. If I so much as looked up, they'd give me a "Get on with it" look.

It's the first book that's got me an agent, too, so yes, I absolutely love libraries!

Congrats ImperialBlether on your agent!

Any news on this?

Yes, would be nice to know who won and what the prize was?